surf scoter , duck n a North American scoter, Melanitta perspicillata, having white patches on the head
blue duck
n a mountain duck, Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos, of New Zealand having a mostly lead-blue plumage
Bombay duck
n a teleost fish, Harpodon nehereus, that resembles and is related to the lizard fishes: family Harpodontidae. It is eaten dried with curry dishes as a savoury, (Also called)
bummalo
(C19: changed from bombil (see bummalo) through association with Bombay, from which it was exported)
cold duck
n an alcoholic beverage made from equal parts of burgundy and champagne
dead duck
n
Slang a person or thing doomed to death, failure, etc., esp. because of a mistake or misjudgment
diving duck
n any of various ducks, such as the pochard, scaup, redhead, and canvasback, that inhabit bays, estuaries, lakes, etc., and can dive and swim beneath the surface of the water
duck [1]
n pl , ducks, duck
1 any of various small aquatic birds of the family Anatidae, typically having short legs, webbed feet, and a broad blunt bill: order Anseriformes
2 the flesh of this bird, used as food
3 the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (drake)
4 any other bird of the family Anatidae, including geese, and swans
5 (Also)
ducks (Brit)
informal dear or darling: used as a term of endearment or of general address
See also →
ducky
6 Informal a person, esp. one regarded as odd or endearing
7 (Cricket) a score of nothing by a batsman
8 ♦
like water off a duck's back
Informal without effect
9 ♦
take to something like a duck to water
Informal to become adept at or attracted to something very quickly
(Old English duce duck, diver; related to duck2)
duck [2]
vb
1 to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away, esp. so as to escape observation or evade a blow
2 to submerge or plunge suddenly and often briefly under water
3 when intr, often foll by: out
Informal to dodge or escape (a person, duty, etc.)
4 intr (Bridge) to play a low card when possessing a higher one rather than try to win a trick
n
5 the act or an instance of ducking
(C14: related to Old High German tuhhan to dive, Middle Dutch duken)
♦
ducker n
duck [3]
n a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave, used for clothing, tents, etc.
See also →
ducks
(C17: from Middle Dutch doek; related to Old High German tuoh cloth)
duck [4]
n an amphibious vehicle used in World War II
(C20: from code name DUKW)
duck-billed platypus
n an amphibious egg-laying mammal, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, of E Australia, having dense fur, a broad bill and tail, and webbed feet: family Ornithorhynchidae, (Sometimes shortened to)
duckbill, platypus See also →
monotreme
duck-egg blue
n
a a pale greenish-blue colour
b (as adj.)
duck-egg blue walls
duck hawk
n a variety of peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus anatum, occurring in North America
duck's arse
n a hairstyle in which the hair is swept back to a point at the nape of the neck, resembling a duck's tail, (Also called)
DA
duck shove
vb (Austral. and N.Z.)
informal to evade responsibility
♦
duck shover n
♦
duck shoving n
duck soup
n (U.S.)
slang something that is easy to do
ferruginous duck
n a common European duck, Aythyra nyroca, having reddish-brown plumage with white wing bars
harlequin duck
n a northern sea duck, Histrionicus histrionicus, the male of which has a blue and red plumage with black and white markings
lame duck
n
1 a person or thing that is disabled or ineffectual
2 (Stock Exchange) a speculator who cannot discharge his liabilities
3 a company with a large workforce and high prestige that is unable to meet foreign competition without government support
a an elected official or body of officials remaining in office in the interval between the election and inauguration of a successor
b (as modifier)
a lame-duck president
5 modifier (U.S.) designating a term of office after which the officeholder will not run for re-election
mandarin duck
n an Asian duck, Aix galericulata, the male of which has a brightly coloured and patterned plumage and crest
Muscovy duck , musk duck
n a large crested widely domesticated South American duck, Cairina moschata, having a greenish-black plumage with white markings and a large red caruncle on the bill
(C17: originally musk duck, a name later mistakenly associated with Muscovy)
musk duck
n
1 another name for →
Muscovy duck
2 a duck, Biziura lobata, inhabiting swamps, lakes, and streams in Australia. The male has a leathery pouch beneath the bill and emits a musky odour
paradise duck
n a large duck, Casarca variegata, of New Zealand, having a brightly coloured plumage
ruddy duck
n a small duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, that inhabits marshes, ponds, etc., in North America and N South America and has a stiff upright tail. The male has a reddish-brown body and blue bill in the breeding season
sea duck
n any of various large diving ducks, such as the eider and the scoter, that occur along coasts
tufted duck
n a European lake-dwelling duck, Aythya fuligula, the male of which has a black plumage with white underparts and a long black drooping crest
wood duck
n a duck, Aix sponsa, of wooded swamps, lakes, etc., in North America, having a very brightly coloured plumage in the male